Dalton Issue Flag of the 51st/52nd Consolidated Tennessee Infantry
As I was researching for my paternal ancestors service in the Confederate Army, Thru his service record, I discovered that he was a member of Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry. This was quite a suprise because in published sources, Hardin County, Tennessee is not associated with the 52nd Tennessee. So I began to search for other possible soldiers from Hardin County.
My study began with the 1860 U.S. Census records, trying to locate others who served in Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry from Hardin County. I started running names in District 14 of Hardin County, which carried a Bonnough Post Office address. This is where my Confederate ancestor William David Lee was living with his family in 1860. I then took the last names of the men living in District 14 and ran them on the NPS Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. Once I had my District 14 soldier prospects, I started going through each mans Individual Compiled Confederate Service Record from the National Archives. Contained in Company B service records is the number of miles traveled to the rendezvous point at Henderson Station and the age of each man. Some of the ages are off by one or two years, this is not uncommon in 19th Century census or service records.
I am pleased by my findings and I believe that a new chapter in Hardin County history has been opened. I will start by giving the name of each man from District 14 and the Compiled Service Record information for each individual.
1.) Wm. David Lee – David was born in Alabama, 1844. In the 1860 census he is listed as living in District 14 with his parents Joseph C. and Nancy. He enlisted as W.D. Lee on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station. Miles traveled to the rendezvous was 40, his age is listed as 19. David was promoted to Corporal on April 22, 1862. He was “slightly wounded” at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee on December 31, 1862 and sent to the hospital at Rome, Georgia on January 2, 1863. A notation on his causality card for the battle lists him as “David”, this is what friends and family called him. He did not return to the regiment but served in Biffle’s 19th (9th)Tennessee Cavalry with his younger brother Samuel, who was a corporal in Company F. According to Nathan Columbus Davis, who lived near Savannah, Hardin County and served in Company F, Biffle’s 19th Cavalry, ”Dave Lee and Sam Lee” served in his company during the war. “Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionaire”, Volume II; page 651.
2.) B.M. Steward/Stewart - Listed as Martin Stewart in the 1860 Census, enlisted as B.M. Sterward, but also noted as B. M Stewart several times in his service record. I believe this man to be David Lee’s uncle or cousin through his mother. He was born in 1837; Georgia and was listed as a farmer. He lived four houses away from the Joseph Lee family. I found a marriage certificate for David’s parents; Joseph Lee and Nancy Stewart in Alabama; 1843. David’s mother Nancy was also born in Georgia. B.M. enlisted as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He is listed as 25 years old, number of miles to the rendezvous was 40. B.M. is listed as a 4th sergeant on the April to December 1862 rolls and is noted as deserting on Jan. 6, 1863. On the March to June muster roll he is listed as present; returned from hospital in Georgia June 1, 1863, no cause for the hospital stay was given. On January 1, 1864 B.M. is promoted to 1st sergeant of Company B. He is listed as dying in a Marrietta, Ga. Confederate hospital from a gunshot wound on May 19, 1864. He is buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Marrietta, Ga.
3.) R. H. Morris – Listed as Robert H. Morris in the 1860 Census. He was born 1845 in Tennessee and was living on his fathers farm in District 14. He was a neighbor on one side to Martin Stewart/Steward and on the other side by another member of the company; Francis Cooley. R.H. enlisted on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He is listed as 18 years of age, number of miles to the rendezvous listed as 39. He is listed as a 4th Sergeant. R.H. died on April 24, 1862, no cause is given for his death.
4.) F.M. Cooley - Shown in the 1860 Census as Francis M. Cooley. Francis , is listed as a “Common Labor” and was born in Mississippi; 1839. His mother Edith and brother Malcom were living in District 2 with Edith’s new husband; widower John W. Lindsey. In 1850 the Edith Cooley family lived in Subdivision 2, Lincoln County, Tennessee. Also in the J.W. Lindsey household was David Lee’s future wife, Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey. There is also a Sarah Stewart/Steward age 50 living in the F.M. Cooley household in 1860. Francis enlisted as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. His age is listed as 22 years old. Number of miles to the rendezvous is listed as 38. Francis is listed as deserting on April 18, 1862, by “order of General Chalmers”. On the August to December 1862 muster roll he is listed as rejoining the company on November 1, 1862. After the battle of Murfreesboro he is again listed as deserting on the 6th of January, 1863. He is later found on the rolls of Wilson’s 21st Tennessee Cavalry.
5.) Frederick M. Ray – Also listed as Fred & F.M in the muster rolls. He was born in Tennessee; 1843. Frederick is living on the H.W. Davis farm and is listed as a “common laborer”. The Davis farm is next door to Martin Steward/Stewart’s. Frederick enlisted as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He is listed as 20 years of age and traveled “38 miles” to the rendezvous. Fred is shown as being “wounded at Shiloh and taken prisoner.” His P.O.W. record from Camp Chase, Ohio states he was captured on April 7, 1862. It also says he is 18 Years old, eyes are hazel, complexion is light and has straight brown hair. It notes that his wound is in the thigh, above the right knee. He is listed as present on the July and August 1863 roll. On the Jan. / Feb. 1864 rolls he is reported as deserting on Feb. 15, 1864. March and April ’64 rolls say that Fred was “furloughed and captured”.
6.) O.E. Whitlow – Listed as Oscar E. Whitlow in the 1860 Census. He was born in Tennessee; 1844. Oscar was living on the family farm at the time of enlistment. He enrolled as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. Oscar stated he traveled 36 miles to the rendezvous and listed his age as 20. On the company muster roll dated June 30, 1862 is a notation, “Died March 4, 1862.” No cause for his death is noted.
7.) Enoch Cupples – Listed as Enoch Couples in the 1860 Census. Enoch was born in North Carolina; 1841. He was living on the family farm before enlistment. Enoch enrolled as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. His age is listed as 21. He stated he traveled 38 miles to the rendezvous. He is listed as “present” on the company muster rolls until a notation that he had “returned from the hospital on May 29, 1863″. No reason was given for the hospital stay. He continued with the regiment until his capture at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee on December 16, 1864. Enoch was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio and was transfered to Point Lookout, Md. on Feb. 17, 1865 for exchange.
8.) J.S. Turner – listed as Josiah in the 1860 Census. He is listed as being born in 1842. He was living on the family farm before enlistment. He enlisted as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He stated he was 18 years old and traveled 38 miles to the rendezvous. On the company muster roll he is a “Reported deserter April 18, 1862 by General Chalmers.” He returns to the muster roll for March and April 1863 as having been “Absent without leave from April 18, 1862 to March 4, 1863. He is listed as being present through March and April 1864. He has a hospital record for June 1, 1864, at the Madison Hospital, Montgomery, Alabama. No reason is given and no other record exists for J.S. Turner’s fate.
9.) J.W. Mitchell – Listed as John W. Mitchel, born 1841, Alabama, in the 1860 Census. He is living on his mother’s farm before enlistment. John enrolled as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He states he is 21 years old and traveled 37 miles to the rendezvous. On the June 1862 muster roll, it states he was sent to the hospital. A causality card states he was wounded April, 1862 at Shiloh. He is present for the rest of 1862, but is listed as being “slightly wounded” at Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862. John is present for all of the year 1863 and is promoted to 3rd corporal on January 1, 1864. On December 16, 1864 John was taken prisoner at the battle of Nashville, Tennessee. He was sent to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois.
10.) W.A. Polk – Listed in the 1860 Census as Wm. Polk, born 1839, Tennessee. He is listed as a farmer on his widowed mothers farm. William enrolled as a private on December 4, 1861 at Henderson Station, Tennessee. He states his age as 21 and miles traveled to the rendezvous, 36. William’s muster sheet states that he “Died April 26, 1862.” No cause is given for William’s death.
11.) J.A. Russell – Listed in the 1860 Census as J.A. Rupell. He is listed as a farmer with $ 1000.00 worth of personal estate. J.A. was born in Tennessee ; 1827. He was also the person that would recruit the men that would become Company B, 52nd Tennessee. Leading his men from Hardin County to Henderson Station, Captain Russell enlisted on December 4, 1861. He stated his age as being 35 years old and that he traveled 40 miles to the rendezvous. He was present with the regiment until early 1863, when he is listed “On detached service.” He went home to recruit a new company (Co. A) for (Wilson’s) 21st Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. A.N. Wilson was formerly a Captain and then Major of the 52nd Tennessee Infantry. Russell’s and Wilson’s companies fought in the ranks of the 5th Mississippi Infantry at Shiloh and gained praise from General Chalmers in his after action report of Shiloh. Not only does Captain Russell seem to have been a good leader, it would appear he was also a very good organizer for the Confederate Army on the east side of the Tennessee River in Hardin County.
There were many others from Hardin County that joined Company B. Many of the men who are listed as deserters can later be found on the rolls of Biffle’s (19th) Tenn. Cavalry and Wilson’s (21st) Tenn. Cavalry Regiments.
The following is a listing of known men from other districts of Hardin County who served in Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry.
C.B. Arendell, District 4; J.M. Arendell, District 4; John Arendell, District 3; J. Austin, District 14 (recruit); S. Austin, District 14 (recruit); W.H. Baker, District 4; J.W. Baker, District 4; W.N. Barnes, District 4; Elijah Basey, District 3; John Black, District 3; T.A. Booth, District 2; R.J. Bratton, District 5; Jesse G. Carson, District 2; H.L. Dearen, District 8; J.F. Doyle, District 1; J.W. Doyle, District 1; F.W. Edings, District 4; W.T. Garner, district unknown (listed from Hardin County on Oath.) Squire Haggard, District 2; George Hailey, District 2; Robert Hames, District 14 (recruit); J.M. Hampton, District 6; R.L. “Leroy” Hodge, District 4; J.R. Kincannon, District 2; T.J. Kincannon, District 2; James Lackey, District 1; Thomas Love, Dist 14 (recruit); Marion Love; J.T. Martin, District 6; W.K. Martin, District 6; C.P. Mays, District 1; Elijah Mays, District 1; Jesse Morton, District 14 (recruit); J.T. Motley, District 4; J. Mullins, District 4; Elisha Peacock, District 5; J.N. Peacock, District 2; W.T. Pierce, District 11; Drury Parker, District 2; Marion Polk, District 2; Aaron Pool, District 2; F.M. Pool, District 2; Woodman Stanton, District 1; J. Reed, District 8; James Taylor, District 11; Wiley Waldo, District 5; W.M. West, District 2; Richard A. White, District 8; J.J. Worley, District 8.
I am sure that this is an incomplete listing of Hardin County Men, there are several men that I believe were from Hardin, but I cannot prove it in census and service records. I do believe that there is more than enough proof that Hardin County men were the core group of Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry. In the future, I hope that any revisions in the two volume set of “Tennesseans in the Civil War” will reflect Hardin County with Company B, 52nd Tennessee Infantry.
Prior to the Battle of Shiloh, the green 52nd Tennessee was placed in General Chalmer's Mississippi Brigade. It performed well as the brigade's left flank regiment in Spain Field, a Alabama soldier noted the action in front of the Federal camps, "One well placed volley from the 52nd Tennessee and the enemy broke and ran." After a two mile march to the Federal left, the regiment became confused by orders to cross and recross Locust Creek so a Confederate battery could fire. During this time the 52nd Tennessee was hit in the flank by Union musket fire, with shock and unclear orders commanding, many in the regiment fled toward the rear. Two companies, Russell's (B) and Wilson's (C) maintained their composure during this confusing time. Companies B & C were attached to the 5th Mississippi Infantry for the duration of the battle and did good service according to General Chalmers in his after action report. Captain Russell had raised his company from Hardin county and Captain Wilson from neighboring counties, this is the likely factor of why the two companies stayed on the field at Shiloh. Fear for the well being of their families and homes from an enemy invader.
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